Chefs give it their all for Taste of North Central benefit

The Montachusett Opportunity Council's Taste of North Central will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster.

Tickets, $30 per person in advance, are available by calling the Montachusett Opportunity Council, (978) 345-7040. You also can visit www.tasteofnorthcentral.org or buy tickets at the door.

I write about many fundraisers throughout the year, and I highly recommend this one. Tastings offered by more than 35 restaurants and businesses are fantastic.

Proceeds benefit the Montachusett Opportunity Council Inc, which was established in 1966 to promote the well-being of low-income people in the cities and towns of North Central Massachusetts. MOC provides direct services, collaborating with other public and private entities to apply comprehensive strategies that help to address the complex issues of poverty, according to Tricia Pistone, associate director of MOC.

Last year, MOC provided services in 30 communities and served more than 20,0000 individuals, she said. Services involve child care, education, workforce development, nutrition, health, community services and housing and homelessness.

"MOC needs our support more than ever," said Bill Brady of Leominster, executive chef/owner of Sonoma in Princeton, a participant in Taste of North Central. "There has been tremendous response from local businesses for this event, and we look forward to a great evening."

Participants: Angler Fish Market & Chowder Co., Black Diamond II at Wachusett Village Inn, Blueprint New American Bar and Grille and McNally's Grille & Pub, all of Westminster; Black Diamond Restaurant at Wachusett Ski Area and Sonoma Restaurant, both in Princeton; Carriage House Restaurant in Winchendon; Dario's Brick Oven Ristorante, Ixtapa Cantina and Kabob-E-Liciuous, all in Lunenburg; Devens Common Center in Devens; Edible Arrangements, Fitchburg Senior Center, Goomba's Pizzeria, Gourmet Donuts, Legends Bar and Grill, Moran Square Diner, S.S. Lobster Ltd., and The Fay Club, all in Fitchburg; JK Crossroads in Templeton; Lucia's Tavola and Markoh's On Main, both in Ayer; Polar Beverages in Worcester; Southside Grille & Margarita Factory and the Gardner Ale House, both in Gardner; The Fireplace Room at The International in Bolton.

The event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at the store. There is limited parking in front of the store, WPI's West Lot on West Street (same side as Wine Vine) and off-street.

There will be a variety of tastings of products "made in Massachusetts" that include local cheese and dips and spreads from Concord; hand-crafted brews and hard cider from Berkshire Brewing Co.; apple ice wine from Harvard; and artisan breads, cookies and liquor cakes, all baked in Douglas.

Also, there will be private-label loose teas from Central Massachusetts.

Entertainment will be by the Ketch II Duo, featuring jazz musicians Charles Ketter on guitar and Susan Kirchhausen on viola.

The mission of Children's Friend is "to improve the lives of children and those who love them."

Go to www.childrensfriend.org for more info.

The event is sponsored in part by Bay State Savings Bank, Commerce Bank, Kohl's Cares, Mirick-O'Connell, Polar Beverages and R.H. White Construction Co.

Great gifts for holiday hosts.

Williams-Sonoma outlet stores offer 40 percent off all roasters and carving sets and 50 percent off all cutting boards through Nov. 17.

A Williams-Sonoma store is located at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham.

Jon Weinberg and Friends will present traditional and contemporary hammer dulcimer music from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Twigs.

Free gift wrapping!

Arturo's Ristorante, 54 East Main St., Westboro, sells a "Family Style To-Go Meal" for $29.95 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Entrée choices include chicken, broccoli and penne; penne and meatballs; chicken Parmesan with penne. Salad choices are garden or Caesar. A loaf of Arturo's fresh-baked focaccia accompanies the meal.

More details at www.arturosristorantecom. Call (508) 366-1881 for information about catering and holiday parties.

The Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts' annual Local Craft Brewfest will take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Way, Boston. The location is on the Boston waterfront in the Fort Point District.

The event features tastings of more than 75 local brews that include craft beer, cider, mead and distilled spirits.

General admission is $45 per person; tickets for two are $85. Visit www.localcraftbrew.eventbrite.com.

The Local Craft Brewfest is a fundraiser for the annual Boston Local Food Festival, considered New England's largest one-day farmers market.

The National Pork Board recently released its first "Cooking for Comfort" e-cookbook.

Featuring time-honored favorites and new twists on classics from James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, barbecue expert and author Ray Lampe and 10 leading food bloggers, the free cookbook highlights tasty ways to warm up with pork.

The first 15,000 people to download "Cooking for Comfort" in November will receive a coupon for $1 off fresh pork, with another 10,000 coupons available beginning Dec. 1.

Visit www.porkbeinspired.com for a free download.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email tobhoulefood@gmail.com.